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The first genuine Jaguar XKSS to be built in almost 60 years was today given its world debut presentation at the Petersen Museum, Los Angeles by Jaguar Classic. The stunning XKSS, finished in Sherwood Green paint, has been created by the Jaguar Classic engineering team ahead of the production of nine cars for delivery to customers across the globe in 2017.

Often referred to as the world’s first supercar, the XKSS was originally made by Jaguar as a road-going conversion of the Le Mans-winning D-type, which was built from 1954 -1956. In 1957, nine cars earmarked for export to North America were lost in a fire at Jaguar’s Browns Lane factory in the British Midlands; meaning just 16 examples of XKSS were built.

Earlier this year Jaguar announced that its Classic division would build the nine ‘lost’ XKSS sports cars for a select group of established collectors and customers. The new one-off XKSS presented in Los Angeles is the summation of 18 months of research and will be used as a blueprint from which the nine continuation cars are built.

The nine cars will be completely new, with period chassis numbers from the XKSS chassis log. All cars are now sold at a price in excess of £1million each ($1,240,964.04).

The XKSS is the second continuation car to be created by Jaguar, following on from the six Lightweight E-types that were built in 2014. This project helped the team learn to engineer cars that are faithful to the specifications to which they were built in period, and this knowledge has been enhanced in creating the ‘new original’ XKSS.

The XKSS unveiled in Los Angeles is a period correct continuation, built using a combination of original drawings from Jaguar’s archive and modern technology. The Jaguar Classic engineering team scanned several versions of the 1957 XKSS to help build a complete digital image of the car, from the body to chassis, and including all parts required.

The body of the XKSS is made from magnesium alloy, as it was in 1957, and because the original styling bucks do not exist, Jaguar Classic produced a new, bespoke styling buck based on the original bodies from the 1950s. The bodies of the nine new cars will be formed on this buck, using a traditional process called hand-wheeling.

Jaguar Classic’s expert engineers worked with the original frames and from there produced CAD to support build of the chassis. In partnership with the Classic team, frame maker Reynolds – famous for their 531 tubing – was briefed to craft bespoke new parts using imperial measurements, rather than metric. The frames are bronze welded in the same way as the period XKSS chassis tubing.

Under the bonnet, the XKSS is supplied with a 262hp 3.4-liter straight six-cylinder Jaguar D-type engine. The engine features completely new cast iron blocks, new cast cylinder heads and three Weber DC03 carburetors.

Inside, the ‘new original’ XKSS features perfect recreations of the original Smiths gauges. Everything from the wood of the steering wheel, to the grain of the leather seats, through to the brass knobs on the XKSS dashboard, is precisely as it would have been in 1957.

Minor specification changes have been made only to improve driver and passenger safety. The fuel cell, for example, uses robust, modern materials to support throughput of modern fuels.

Customer vehicles will be hand-built beginning this year, and it is estimated that 10,000 man hours will go into building each of the new XKSS cars.

Kev Riches, Jaguar Classic Engineering Manager, said: “The XKSS is one of the most important cars in Jaguar’s history, and we are committed to making the ‘new original’ version absolutely faithful to the period car in every way.

“From the number, type and position of all the rivets used – there are more than 2,000 in total – to the Smiths gauges on the dashboard, everything is the same as the original cars, because that is the way it should be.”

Tim Hannig, Director of Jaguar Land Rover Classic, said: “The XKSS continuation program underlines the world-class expertise we have at Jaguar Land Rover Classic. We are committed to nurturing the passion and enthusiasm for Jaguar’s illustrious past by offering exceptional cars, services, parts and experiences.

“Jaguar Land Rover Classic is perfectly positioned to cater for this growing love for classics, with a new £7.5m global headquarters set to open in Coventry in 2017. We are looking forward to growing this business, supporting our existing customers and engaging with a whole new generation of global enthusiasts.”

Stunningly beautiful Jaguar Classic engineering. Should there be interest, contact us at Jaguar Orlando, and we’ll make arrangements for you. And we’ll keep you up-to-date on all the relevant news and information about the Jaguar experience.

Jaguar showcased its latest Connected and Autonomous Vehicle technologies as part of the UK Autodrive demonstrations taking place at the HORIBA MIRA Technology Park in the Midlands of the UK today. Jaguar is working with Ford and Tata Motors European Technical Center to test connected technologies that will allow cars to talk to each other as well as the roadside infrastructure, such as traffic lights, in the future.

Connected and Autonomous Vehicle technologies are one of Jaguar’s research priorities. It is creating a fleet of more than 100 research vehicles to develop and test a wide range of Connected and Autonomous Vehicle technologies over the next four years. Ultimately, the goal is for these technologies to enhance the driving experience as well as making driving smarter and even cleaner in the years to come.

Tony Harper, Head of Research, Jaguar, said: “We know that there’s a huge potential for these technologies in future vehicles around the world. Until now we have focused on communication between Jaguar vehicles, this collaborative approach is a major stepping stone towards all Connected and Autonomous Vehicles co-operating with each other in the future.

“Our aim is to give drivers exactly the right information at the right time and collaborations with other manufacturers are essential to help us deliver this commitment to our customers.”

Jaguar is developing both fully and semi-autonomous vehicle technologies to help the driver with the challenging or more tedious parts of driving while maintaining an enjoyable driving experience. The company’s vision is to make the autonomous car viable in the widest range of real life, on and off road driving environments and weather conditions.

Connected and Autonomous Vehicle Technologies*

Included within the suite of technologies being tested are Advanced Highway Assist, Electronic Emergency Brake Light Assist and Green Light Optimal Speed Advisory.

With Advanced Highway Assist the vehicle can overtake vehicles automatically, as well as, stay in its lane on the motorway without the driver having to touch either the steering wheel or the pedals.

Electronic Emergency Brake Light Assist warns drivers when a vehicle ahead brakes severely or unexpectedly. This is particularly useful when driving in dense fog or if the vehicle in front is out of sight*.

Imagine traveling without needing to stop at traffic lights because they are always on green. This could be possible with Green Light Optimal Speed Advisory. The car connects to traffic lights advising the driver of the best driving speed required to reach the lights when they are on green. This will improve traffic flow, CO₂ emissions as well as the driver’s experience. Jaguar Orlando will keep you up-to-date on all of Jaguar’s innovative technologies.

* These features and technologies are currently being developed and tested by Jaguar Land Rover and the actual features available on future production models may differ from the ones described here.

On October 7, 2016, Jaguar Land Rover announced its commitment to addressing the skills gap that manufacturing is facing worldwide by appointing Noodle, Japanese guitarist and founding member of virtual band Gorillaz, as global ambassador to inspire young people to pursue education and careers in technology and engineering.

Jaguar Land Rover, the UK’s leading investor in Research and Development, plans to use its entry into Formula E to promote the company’s efforts to shape the future by solving the technology innovation and skills gap challenges.

Panasonic Jaguar Racing will spearhead a campaign that will help underline the important role Formula E will play in developing the next generation of electric vehicle technology. Noodle will help to highlight the opportunities this gives young people to get involved and be a part of the biggest change the car industry has ever seen – the electrication of vehicle powertrain technology.

Fiona Pargeter, Global PR Communications Director, Jaguar Land Rover, said, “By 2022 we’re facing a shortfall of 300,000 skilled engineers in the UK alone. It is our responsibility to change this future by inspiring young people. Yes we want to be successful on track, but Formula E can be a once in a generation opportunity to inspire the future generations of engineers. A global platform to inspire and attract young children to a career in innovation and engineering – through Panasonic Jaguar Racing’s partnership with Noodle we hope to inspire millions of young people to help invent the future.”

Noodle is the 21st Century Japanista and founding member of Gorillaz. The band has released five albums since 2000, selling in excess of 100 million records globally.

Talking about her new role as part of the @JaguarRacing team helping to inspire the next generation of young engineers, male and female, Noodle said, “The young minds of today are the engineers of tomorrow. We are in the driving seat and our imaginations are the fuel. It’s time to lead the charge and build a better world!”

At Jaguar, we are always committed to developing new technology to improve our vehicles’ performance and driving experience. The Ingenium engine embodies this ethos and ensures our vehicles meet new Euro 6 emissions standards that come into effect on 1st September 2015.

A key feature of the Ingenium engine is its future-proofing. Having been developed from scratch by some of the world’s finest automotive engineers, the engine was designed without compromise and with one eye on tomorrow. As well as complying with EU legislation, the state-of-the-art engine can be adapted to integrate future technology advances and regulation changes.
Ingenium is also a prime example of Jaguar’s commitment to British engineering and manufacturing. We’ve been able to create 6,900 UK jobs at the Jaguar Land Rover Engine Manufacturing Centre and in the supply chain by bringing engine production in-house.

“Being configurable and flexible are the two key strands of Ingenium – it will be able to accept new advances in fuel, turbocharging, emissions, performance and electrification technologies when they are ready.” Ron Lee, Jaguar Land Rover Director of Powertrain Engineering.

The Ingenium engine is available in the Jaguar XE, F-PACE and XF. We’d love to show you all about how it works at Jaguar Orlando…ready for a test drive?

The Jaguar F-PACE has put on another dramatic display of dynamic precision and control. After setting the Guinness World Record for the world’s biggest loop-the-loop at its launch last year, the very same record-breaking F-PACE and stunt driver Terry Grant have teamed up again for a thrilling drive at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

This time Grant piloted Jaguar’s first family sports car up the famous Goodwood hill on two wheels. As if that was not enough, professional freestyle motorbike stunt rider Lee Bowers was on board to add even more jeopardy to proceedings.

Bowers is no stranger to two wheels and swapped his saddle for the luxurious leather interior of Jaguar’s first performance crossover. As the F-PACE two-wheeled up the demanding course, Bowers climbed out of the passenger window to stand on the side of the Jaguar and salute the crowd, before climbing back inside ahead of the finishing line.

Terry Grant, legendary stunt driver, said: “When Jaguar gave me the opportunity to reunite with the F-PACE used to break the world’s largest loop record, I couldn’t say no. Its light, stiff aluminium body and precise controls make it the perfect wheelie vehicle, and it was great to have Lee Bowers along for company – even if he did climb out halfway through our run!”

Even for an expert of Grant’s calibre, the two-wheeled drive required hours of planning. Final preparations were completed at Santa Pod Raceway in Northamptonshire just days ahead of the live event.

For the actual drive, spectators were left in no doubt about the identity of the Jaguar as #FPACE was emblazoned on both the roof and underside of the vehicle.

Jaguar’s first ever family sports car has become the manufacturer’s fastest-selling vehicle. In the first 10 months on sale more than 14,000 orders have been placed, with all 2,000 First Edition vehicles sold out.

The Jaguar F-PACE is Jaguar’s first performance crossover and its lightweight body structure comprises 80 per cent aluminum. It is the only aluminum-intensive design in its sector and is manufactured at Jaguar Land Rover’s Solihull Plant in the UK. This fantastic new SUV is at our dealership – click here to view inventory.

With the introduction of the all-new Jaguar F-PACE performance SUV and XE compact sports sedan in retailers this spring, Jaguar has fully realized its U.S. go-to-market strategy first announced in September of 2015.

The New Generation of Jaguar relies on a series of competitive go-to-market initiatives that stand to fundamentally transform the Jaguar business in the United States in 2016.

Expansion of the Jaguar Line-upWith the introduction of models that compete in both the largest and fastest growing segments of the premium automotive market – the XE compact sports sedan and F-PACE performance SUV, respectively – Jaguar stands to dramatically increase its sales in the U.S. As much as 50 percent of Jaguar sales could be derived from these two models alone. Together, the XE and F-PACE focus on the core of the luxury market and on a far wider range of potential customers than ever before.

Aggressive PricingAll Jaguar models are priced such that their base prices are square in the middle of their respective competitive segments. This competitive value position is achieved through both high content standard equipment and new lower MSRP choices by model. As a result, when compared on a like-for-like basis against cars within a given segment, Jaguar models exhibit a significant savings over the majority of the competition and near parity elsewhere. The increased value builds on each of the products’ key strengths and comes alongside new available technologies such as Torque On-Demand All Wheel Drive [3], shared lightweight aluminum-intensive architectures, Jaguar InControl® infotainment features [4], electric power assisted steering, and soon, the introduction of diesel powertrain technology.

Peace of Mind Ownership AssuranceFirst introduced in late 2016, all new Jaguar models come standard with the peace of mind of a best-in-class ownership package [2] – Jaguar EliteCare – the highlights of which include a new vehicle limited warranty, complimentary scheduled maintenance, complimentary roadside assistance and a suite of connectivity services called Jaguar InControl® Remote & ProtectTM

Collectively, each of these steps extend the appeal of Jaguar in the U.S. and have the potential to position the company to become one of the fastest growing automotive manufacturers in the premium segment, if not the entire industry for the 2016 calendar year.

WHAT’S NEW FOR 2017

Led by the introduction of two new models in May – the XE and F-PACE – positioned as entry points to the brand, for the first time in its 80 year history Jaguar has five vehicles within its line-up.

2017 Jaguar XE

The short overhangs, cab-rearward stance and low driving position on the XE underscore the car’s F-TYPE inspired performance characteristics. Following a limited global release outside of North America as a 2016 Model Year car, the XE has already garnered more than 40 awards for its design, packaging and driving dynamics.

The 2017 XE is available with three different engines in the U.S.; a choice to suit every need. There’s the powerful “35t,” featuring a 340hp V-6 pulled from the F-TYPE; the “25t,” a compact gasoline inline- [4] shared with other Jaguar Land Rover products, like the Evoque and Discovery Sport; and the “20d,” the brand’s first-ever diesel in North America, and the first of a new generation of “Ingenium” engines wholly designed, engineered and built by Jaguar Land Rover in the UK.

Sharing an aluminum intensive architecture with both the new XE and recently redesigned XF, means the first-ever SUV from Jaguar has at its heart the driving dynamics of a sport sedan, while sharing the versatility and all-season capability of a performance SUV; it’s the most practical sports car from Jaguar ever.

Jaguar Design Director, Ian Callum and his team embraced this ethos and incorporated key design features from the F-TYPE sports car into the exterior of the F-PACE; the shape of the tail light roundel, Jaguar trademark power bulge in the hood and sheet metal that wraps around the rear haunch of the car contribute to a sense of tension and performance that underscore the new car’s driving experience.

The 2017 F-PACE is available with three powertrain options – the 340hp “35t,” the 380hp “S,” and later this year, a 2.0L turbocharged inline- [4] “Ingenium” diesel, the “20d” – all routed through an 8-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. Starting prices are as follows:

Following a full redesign for the 2016MY, the 2017 XF model line expands with a new entry price point added under the existing Premium trim level and an available “20d” diesel engine which lowers the starting price to just $47,450 [1].

The “Ingenium” diesel, shared with the XE and F-PACE, is the first diesel powertrain offered in the United States by Jaguar and the first of a new Ingenium family of engines to be introduced for the brand.

Designed, engineered and built wholly in-house by Jaguar Land Rover engineers, all Ingenium engines feature a configurable and flexible common architecture – the same bore, stroke, cylinder spacing and 500cc cylinder capacity – enabling maximum manufacturing efficiencies and the potential development of additional engine variants which meet future regulatory and competitive requirements at greater speed to market.

Applying learnings from the Land Rover V6 diesel programs for North America, the calibration of the Jaguar “20d” 180hp Ingenium diesel engine was optimized to the last detail to deliver truly outstanding throttle response, while being 50-state emissions legal.

The 2017 XF also receives a few minor design changes including a new rotary shifter treatment, four new wheel styles and the introduction of three new paint colors.

The new model structure includes 18 variants ranging from XF, XF Premium, XF Prestige and XF R-Sport for both 20d and 35t powertrains, and an additional 380hp XF S model, each of which are available as rear- or all-wheel drive. Starting prices are as follows:

For 2017, Jaguar takes its F-TYPE sports car to the next level with the introduction of the 2017 Jaguar F-TYPE SVR. The F-TYPE SVR is an all-weather supercar, the brand’s lightest, quickest and most powerful F-TYPE ever, and the first to wear the SVR badge.

Featuring functional enhancements to the chassis, driveline and aerodynamics, in coupe form the F-TYPE SVR is one of very few production cars able to achieve 200mph [6]; acceleration from 0-60 mph in both coupe and convertible versions takes just 3.5 seconds [6].

Additionally, all 17 Model Year F-TYPE convertible models also receive a reconfigured trunk which expands the useable space to 7.3-cu. ft.

Like the XF, a new entry trim level has also been added to the 2017 F-TYPE line-up. The model range now spans from the F-TYPE, up to F-TYPE Premium, F-TYPE S, F-TYPE R and the top level F-TYPE SVR. The new trim structure allows the F-TYPE to be more competitive in the luxury coupe/convertible market. Starting prices are as follows:

First launched in September of 2015, every new Jaguar comes standard with Jaguar EliteCare, a Best-in-Class ownership package [2] that includes a 5 years or 60,000 miles new vehicle limited warranty, complimentary scheduled maintenance, as well as a suite of connectivity services and roadside assistance.

The New Generation of Jaguar was kicked off on April 19 with a multi-faceted campaign called Master Plan, featuring Tom Hiddleston and Nicholas Holt, to drive awareness for the full line of Jaguar products, but with explicit focus on raising awareness for the two newest products, the XE and F-PACE.

Placed on major TV networks, in automotive publications and through online properties, the campaign targeted conquest customers and drove record online traffic to JaguarUSA.com as these vehicles went on sale. Following visits to the website, showroom traffic at retailers reached record levels as well, proving both the XE and F-PACE as compelling alternatives to the established competitors within their respective segments.

“THE ART OF PERFORMANCE” JAGUAR XE TEST DRIVE TOUR

To introduce the Jaguar XE compact sports sedan to a growing millennial consumer demographic who desire performance and seduction in their luxury vehicles, Jaguar launched “The Art of Performance Tour: Lights. Camera. Drive!” in Los Angeles, late last year. This seven-city cross-country tour continues in 2016 and invites consumers to see the full 2016/2017 Jaguar line-up, including the Jaguar F-PACE, and be among the first to drive the Jaguar XE.

The Tour incorporates a cinematic drive experience that celebrates Jaguar’s long standing relationship with the silver screen. During their visit, consumers have the opportunity to star in their own filmed action sequence behind the wheel of the XE, as they experience high performance driving on a closed course and on-road handling through a street drive. The personal film they leave with is sharable through popular social media pages, including Facebook. Consumers can sign up to receive more information about The Art of Performance by visiting JaguarUSA.com/RSVP.

Come in and see the New Generation of Jaguar vehicles at Jaguar Orlando. Schedule a test drive and find out how wonderful this new lineup is!

[2] Class is cars sold by luxury automobile brands and claim is based on total package of warranty, maintenance and other coverage programs. For complete details regarding Jaguar EliteCare coverage, please visit JAGUARUSA.COM, call 1.800.4.JAGUAR or visit your local Jaguar Retailer.

[3] These features are not a substitute for driving safely with due care and attention and will not function under all circumstances, speeds, weather and road conditions, etc. Driver should not assume that these features will correct errors of judgment in driving. Please consult the owner’s manual or your local authorized Jaguar Retailer for more details.

[4] Do not use Jaguar InControl® features under conditions that will affect your safety or the safety of others. Driving while distracted can result in loss of vehicle control.

On May 25, 2016, Jaguar North America announced retailers throughout the country will be hosting exclusive customer events this spring to introduce the brand’s latest compact sports sedan, the Jaguar XE & Jaguar’s first ever compact SUV, the F-PACE. Events will be taking place through the month of May, with most taking place May 23-31. Attendees will be amongst the very first consumers to see Jaguar’s latest five-model line-up, which has the capacity to reach a far wider range of potential luxury customers than ever before.

Jaguar retailers will welcome the vehicles in grand style, with events that include social media contests for weekend vehicle loans, interactive bars and live music. Retailers, including Barrett Jaguar in San Antonio, Texas will be unleashing the cats at their event, as they send aerialists and body-painted Jaguar cats into the crowd to unveil the XE & F-PACE, while Jaguar Sacramento will be hosting an evening party at Mather Aviation for an impressive unveiling with music by DJ Louie, a San Francisco-based DJ.

Jaguar Main Line will be taking their event to the outdoors at the Devon Horse Show, which will feature a five-car Jaguar display, tickets to carnival rides and a raffle of an all-new Jaguar F-PACE, with all proceeds benefitting Bryn Mawr Hospital. Throughout the events, attendees and dealership personnel will be sharing images and information via social media using #NewGenJaguar.

“This is a major milestone for the Jaguar brand and we are excited to have our retailers showcase the expanded lineup of Jaguar models to a larger target audience during their New Generation of Jaguar events,” said Chris Marchand, Vice President, Operations, Jaguar Land Rover North America. “Guests will be among the first to experience the XE and F-PACE and learn about our all-new ownership package with best in class coverage, Jaguar EliteCare.” *

For added piece of mind, all 2017 Jaguar models sold in the U.S. now come equipped with Jaguar EliteCare, a best-in-class ownership package* offering a new vehicle limited warranty with complimentary scheduled maintenance, roadside assistance and Jaguar InControl® Remote & Protect™ for five-years or 60,000 miles.

The competitively priced Jaguar XE and F-PACE add relevance for the Jaguar brand placing them in a strong position in the luxury segment. The 2017 Jaguar XE is currently available with an MSRP starting at $34,900,** and the 2017 Jaguar F-PACE with an MSRP starting at $40,990.**

Jaguar Land Rover North America is extending its support of the 2016 Invictus Games in Orlando, Florida as lead sponsor of the U.S. Team, which will compete against 11 other nations’ teams in the multi-sport event for Wounded, Ill and Injured Service Members, May 8-12.

Jaguar Land Rover, presenting partner of the inaugural games in London 2014 and this year’s games in Orlando, will continue its commitment to the Games by renewing its role as sponsors of the UK team.

“Jaguar Land Rover is proud to back the U.S. armed forces teams to compete in the Invictus Games in Orlando this May,” said Joe Eberhardt, President and CEO, Jaguar Land Rover, North America, LLC. “The men and women on the U.S. team, as well as those on the competing teams of other nations, represent the courage, determination and bravery of our armed forces, and we wish them the best of luck in Orlando.”

The Invictus Games use the power of sport to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation and generate a wider understanding and respect for Wounded, Ill and Injured Service Members. Launched in 2014 by Prince Harry, the second edition of the Games will take place from May 8-12, 2016 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando. Earlier this month, Prince Harry himself passed the Invictus Games Flag to U.S. team captain Will Reynolds at Buckingham Palace. That flag will tour the United States prior to the Games, making stops at the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, the UK Embassy and White House in Washington, D.C. and more, before its final stop in Orlando.

“I am so proud to be leading the U.S. team in Orlando this year,” said Reynolds. “The Games celebrate the determination that each and every one of these competitors have shown in the face of true challenges.”

Reynolds will lead the US team of 115 athletes, competing across 10 sports. The rigorous selection process was based on the benefit the Invictus Games will give an individual as part of their recovery, combined with performance and commitment to training. The full U.S. team will begin training later this month in Tampa, Florida.

In addition to their partnership with both the Games and the U.S. and UK Teams, Jaguar Land Rover will also provide all competing nations with the first opportunity to win an Invictus Games 2016 medal through the Driving Challenge which takes place on May 7. Two team members from all 14 competing nations will take on the role of driver and navigator in the two time-trials which make up the challenge. Each pair will compete in both the Jaguar XE and Land Rover Discovery Sport, testing their communication, team-work and strategic planning skills.

Jaguar Land Rover’s commitment to the Armed Forces and Veteran community was further extended last week as details of the new Jaguar Land Rover CALIBRE Partnership were announced. This collaboration will fund the training and hiring of 180 U.S. Service Members this year across North American retailers, and follows the recruitment of over 200 Transitioning Service Members, Veterans, and currently serving members of the National Guard and Reserve in the UK since 2013.

The Invictus Games are the only international adaptive sporting event for Wounded, Ill, and Injured WII Service Members, both serving and veteran. The inaugural Invictus Games, held in London in September 2014, saw over 400 competitors from 13 nations compete in nine sports. Invictus Games Orlando 2016 will see 500 competitors from 14 nations compete in 10 sports including Athletics; Archery; Indoor Rowing; Powerlifting; Road Cycling; Sitting Volleyball; Swimming; Track and Field; Wheelchair Basketball; Wheelchair Rugby, and a new sport for 2016, Wheelchair Tennis.

Jaguar Orlando is proud of Jaguar Land Rover’s steadfast commitment to these Invictus Games and to our global family of Armed Forces and Veterans!

Prince Harry meets children of servicemen and women during the 2016 Invictus Games Opening Ceremony in Orlando, FL.

Jaguar is proud to announce that it has been honored with the 2016 Kelley Blue Book Brand Image Award for “Best Car Styling Luxury Brand.” This is the second time the brand has received this honor, also winning in 2014, and comes after an incredible transformational year for Jaguar fueled by a new competitive pricing structure, an expanded product line- up and the introduction of Jaguar EliteCare1, the brand’s new best-in-class warranty package.

The Kelley Blue Book Brand Image Awards recognize automakers’ outstanding achievements in creating and maintaining brand attributes that capture the attention and enthusiasm of the new-vehicle buying public. Award categories are calculated among luxury, non-luxury and truck shoppers. Based on consumer automotive perception data from Kelley Blue Book Strategic Insights’ Brand Watch study, the highly comprehensive study offers insight into how shoppers perceive important factors driving their purchase decisions, and captures brand/model familiarity and loyalty among new-car shoppers. The visually striking exterior design features of the Jaguar F-TYPE and XF models has earned praise in the market and played an important role in earning this styling award.

“Design has always been at the heart of Jaguar products, and to be recognized with this award at a time when the brand is experiencing incredible momentum and growth is very gratifying,” said Kim McCullough, Vice President, Marketing, Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC. “As we begin to expand our line up with the addition of the XE and F-PACE this spring, we look forward to the opportunity to reach an even wider audience and welcome new owners and fans of the brands.”

In addition to the expanding Jaguar model lineup, the brand continues to enhance and refresh current models. Fully redesigned for 2016, the second generation Jaguar XF brings a unique blend of design, technology and refinement to the premium sedan segment. Positioned between the mid-size Jaguar XE and the flagship Jaguar XJ, also refreshed for 2016, the new bodywork on the XF mirrors the evolution of the Jaguar design language.

Since its introduction in 2014, the Jaguar F-TYPE range has expanded from three models to six in only one model year. All-new for 2017, the ultra-high performance Jaguar F-TYPE SVR made its North American debut at the New York International Auto Show. The very first production Jaguar vehicle to be developed by Special Vehicle Operations and wear the SVR badge, the F-TYPE SVR takes performance, dynamics and driver involvement to a new level yet retains the comfort and duality of character inherent to all Jaguar cars.

In addition to debuting the 2017 Jaguar F-TYPE SVR at the New York International Auto Show, the newest Jaguar line-up also includes the 2017 XE compact sports sedan, the brand’s first performance SUV, the Jaguar F-PACE newly re-designed XF and XJ sedans, and the 2016 F-TYPE. For more information about the 2016 Kelley Blue Book Brand Image Awards, visit www.kbb.com/new-cars/brand-image-awards.

Keep in touch with us at Jaguar Orlando for updates on the arrival of the 2017 F-TYPE SVR, 2017 XE compact sports sedan, and the all new 2017 F-PACE SUV. Contact us anytime and let us know you’re preferences – we’d be glad to put you on the short list!

British automaker Jaguar is taking its aerodynamic expertise onto the slopes with the help of Olympic skier Graham Bell.

The Olympian and automotive brand have announced a technical partnership with the goal of setting a Guinness World Record for fastest downhill ski speed, currently held by Italian speed skier Simone Origone. Emphasizing principles of design and speed in other fields builds the Jaguar brand in an organic and unobtrusive manner.

“As engineering challenges go it doesn’t get more unique than this, so the next few months are going to be very exciting,” said Ian Anderton, thermal and aerodynamics manager at Jaguar Land Rover. “In many ways, it’s very similar to the car design process, necessitating the perfect balance between aerodynamics, engineering and design for ultimate performance.”

Downhill edge
Mr. Bell participated in five Winter Olympics from 1984 to 1998 and now hosts the British TV show “The Jump,” in which celebrities partake in a variety of winter sports. Working with Jaguar, he hopes to exceed 160 mph, well above Mr. Origone’s 156 mph record.

Jaguar is developing a ski suit and harness that contains twin micro jets. The Jaguar XE is being used as a model for its aluminum-intensive body structure, which makes it lighter, stiffer and more aerodynamic than any other Jaguar.

In a statement, Mr. Bell said, “I approached Jaguar to become my lead technical partner due to their experience in aerodynamics and love of all things involving speed. As lead technical partner in the attempt, Jaguar will provide the aerodynamic expertise to develop the Iron-Man-style suit I need, as well as helping me acclimatize to speed and external forces using high performance vehicles including the Jaguar XE AWD – designed to provide maximum traction in adverse conditions including snow and ice.”

The two partners have already begun training in the Austrian Alps. Mr. Bell has skijored, a winter sport in which a skier is pulled by an animal or motor vehicle, behind a Jaguar XE traveling over 100 mph.

The tests help determine what factors, such as wind chill and skiing position, need to be considered when designing the ski suit. The actual record attempt will take place early next year in Jaguar’s cold weather testing facility in Sweden.

To help promote the partnership, Jaguar has shared a training film of the skijoring on social media platforms.

The video begins with shots of the Austrian Alps and Mr. Bell suiting up and stepping into his skis. Mr. Anderton echoes the difficulty of the challenge but notes, “We are best placed, in terms of our technical capabilities, to be the ones who do it, though.”

Bell then discloses his strategy: to reduce the amount of fuel – and thus weight – he has to carry, he will let the XE bring his speed up as high as possible, then disconnect from the vehicle and activate the jet pack to put him over the hump and claim the record.

“Extreme” stunts often have a broader appeal than specialized sporting activities because of the thrills and dangers associated with them. By sharing the video on social media, Jaguar can draw the attention of consumers who may not initially be interested in a skiing activity.

Moreover, the placement of the XE in the Alps discreetly promotes the vehicle’s handling and bad-weather capabilities. Making itself a design and speed force in other racing and sporting events reinforces Jaguar’s brand values.

Off to the races
Jaguar’s sister brand has also looked to other forms of racing to prove its design and speed prowess.

British automaker Land Rover is also using its technological proficiency to conquer the seas.

For the first race of the America’s Cup, sometimes referred to as “Formula 1 on water,” Land Rover will participate in the race with a multihull catamaran going by the name R1. Land Rover frequently puts design and tech at the forefront of its marketing, but taking to the sea will solidify those values and possibly bring the brand to a new market segment.

Jaguar Orlando will post more about this exciting engineering challenge as information becomes available.